Santa Ana Lane savaged the line to record a maiden Group 1 victory in the 2017 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.

Santa Ana Lane stormed home late to win the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

The hot early tempo set by Attention and Theanswermyfriend ensured that the race would be set-up for a swooper and that proved to be the case.

Mr Sneaky hit the front at the 250 metre mark and looked as though he would be tough to beat, but Santa Ana Lane showed an incredible turn-of-foot and he finished over the top of his stablemate to claim a maiden Group 1 win.

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes quinella was a huge result for trainer Anthony Freedman and he was quick to pay credit to his entire team, who plenty of work with behind the scenes.

“It is a great thrill and it is a credit to the team,” Freedman said.

“The guys do a great job and like any stable you can’t do it without them.

“The owners have let me plot a course with these two horses and it has worked out.

“I thought he was a bit unlucky at The Valley the other day and his form in the past six months has been really solid.

“He was always one of those horses that if he got into one of these races and things went his way he could win one.

“With Lee going I lost a few horses because of that and results like this put you name back there and people go he might be able to go alright.”

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner generally presses on to the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in a fortnight, but Freedman revealed that he will likely take a different path with Santa Ana Lane.

“I don’t know if Santa Ana Lane is a genuine miler,” Freedman said.

“Running that time today is going to hurt a bit and he will have a very quiet week.”

Scales Of Justice started the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes as a clear favourite and he loomed out wide at the top of the straight, but never really let down.